The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-25

laws. They voted for Bell and Everett on Chi
broad national platform. and if [ am not mis-
taken in current history. they were unwilingly
drawn bv Democratic politicians inta
the fratricidal contest But when in ii
they did their duty manfully and bravely.
each man according to his convictions of duty.
Your people divided on opposite lines and bore
more than your share of the terrible losses and
sacrifices of the war. 1t is over; thank God! but
the courage, bravery and forttude Of both sides
are now the pride and heritage of US all. Think
the part he took in that fight. to revive in tn.
heart of any one the triumph of victory or the
pangs of defeat do not come to make apollo
ges-nor do ask any of you. The war was
perhaps, unavoidable, bound to come sometime.
and the sooner ended the better. All that J
claim is that the Republican party was actuated
not by spirit OF hate or conquest, or revenge
but only by fervent love OF the Union and Z
determined purpose to maintain the Constitu
tion they understood it. No man in the
North questions the honesty of purpose or the
heroism with which the Confederates maintained
their cause. and you will give credit for like
courage and honorable motives to Union soldiers,
North and South.
when the war was over the people of the
North heartily approved the generous terms
granted by General Grant to General Lee and
the confederate troops, and wished that the peo
pie of the South should be restored to all their
rights and privileges subject only to such con
ditons as honor and good faith seemed to dc
mand arising out of the proclamation Of
President Lincoln for the emancipation
of the slaves Both sides felt that the
abolition Of slavery was the necessary result
of the war, and it seemed to us, if the slaves
were to be free, they must be armed with the
privileges of free men, and these were secured
to them by constitutional amendments. The
attempt to enforce those rights by national au.
thority has thus far partially failed, and now II
is conceded that under the limitations of the
Constitution the rights OF the citizen OF a State
can only be enforced through State or ma
r and N yIahli nntn JnY,
intoleraat. and juries will not do theii
duties. citizen, either white
black. may be without remedy for the crosses
wrongs, except the right to migrate to where hi
rights will be respected. Our institutions
based upon the idea that such denial of rights il
impossible, and trust that the time is not fai
distant when the people of every State will fee
it to be both just and expedient that every citi
zen of the State shall be protected in the free
and equal enjoyment Of every right and privi
lege conferred by the Constitution of the United
States The Republican party is pledged TO thii
policy, and, though 1t will use no urconstitu
tional means to secure rights, it wonld he false
to its principles if it does not use all its mora
and legal power to that end No wrong can be
done to the humblest citizen, and no right with
held, without reacting upon the community al
large. was glad to hear, in passing through
several of the Southern States, conservative citi
zens say that public sentiment now revolts al
unlawful methods to defeat the free ex.
ercise Of the equal rights of citi
SoV0Ta
States, and still practiced in what are known
as the black counties Of the South. As long as
such methods are rescrted to there will be the
keen sense of wrong and in ustice to the injured
persons, aud those who practice such nffenses
will, in the end, suffer for 1t. Sectional feeling
will continue to exist as long as large masses OF
people, whether poor or rich, white or black, are
denied their rights to share in self-eovernment.
1t sets bad example. which the criminal classes
in the North nave, in some cases, eagerly adopt
ed, to cheat at elections, as in Cincinnati two
wears ago. 1t also produces inequality of repre-.
sentation between the North and the South. and
this keeps sectional lines in party politics. 1t
opens the way to the corruption and fraud which
in time destroy all pretense of republican gov
ernnent
'.But there is another ground on which pre-
fer to base my appeal to the South for justice
and fair play to the African 1t was re-
Gently eloquently stated. in debate, by Senator
Vest of Missouri, that
II have nothing to say to any who thinks that
to-day would grind the African out of one cent
If any man this world has reason to be their friend
/ am that man-rased with them. nursed by one OF
them humble owner of them inherited property,
1 never bought sold one for gain in my life They
docile gentle, inoensive AMI the Southern
man who would wrong them deserves to be botted
from the roll of manhood. When wives and chill.
dren were in their hands during the war, they acted
to make every in the South their friend
who had one particle Of manhood about him.
IF this be so all history attests, then we
may appeal to the manly spirit of our own race
laWloSS
| injustice and cruelty of all those of our raca
| who may hereafter seek to deprive them OF plain
constitutional rights, either bv open force or by
taking advantage of their ignorance. If the
kindly spirit stated by Senator Vest is mani
| tested the color line will disappear from
American politics. and we then look
only to the safety, development and
! power OF one great and united country.
The freedman. in the full enjoyment oi
his rights will divide between parties as other
citizens do. and his labor will become the grea;
| factor in the wealth and rosperty of the region
in which he lives. 1t is contributing its
| full share in building UP, with marvellous rapid
| ity the region I have recently traversed. and
| will be of infinitely more value to the South
| than the needless and lstless labor of slaves ia
| the olden times Win these people by kindness
and just regard to their constitutional rights.
| and they will vote with you and do their fu II
| share to make the South rich, prosperous and
| happy.
| II also wish to express, in the strongest Ian.
guage my admiration and respect for the vim
| and energy with which the South is graphing
| with the new conditions Of labor and industry
! by which they are surrounded and my confident
! belief that within single generation your peo.
pie will more than be repaid for the value OF
their slaves by the results of diversified industry
! and subdivision of land. The time will como,
| and seems now near at hand. when you and
| your children will rejoice. not only that ths
| slaves are free, but that the Union has beeE
preserved and strengthened.
/ THE TARTFF AND TAXATION.
"And now, fellow-ctizens, I gladly turn te
those questions of national politics which alike
affect all parts of our country, and which alone
ought TO be the subjects of political discussion.
/ What are these2 answer. taxation, currency
public credit, foreign aud domestic commerce.
education, internal improvements no.
sectional. but of vital Importance to ali alike
Above ALL the mode of national taxation is mos,
| important 1t is interwoven with and doni
mates all other questions. Whichever party j.
in power will find it necessary to secure by
some form Of taxation, about three hundred
| millions of revenue. The Constitution gives I,
Congress an almost unlimited power OF taxa
ton. 1t may levy i,Dposts duties on i'm